How to hire a refrigeration mechanic

How to hire a refrigeration mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step refrigeration mechanic hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a refrigeration mechanic job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new refrigeration mechanic
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a refrigeration mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a refrigeration mechanic, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect refrigeration mechanic also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of refrigeration mechanics and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Refrigeration Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Refrigeration Mechanic	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers—often called heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) technicians—work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.	$15-31
   Mechanic	Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components... Show more	$16-30
   Hvac Mechanic	An HVAC mechanic specializes in installing and repairing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities revolve around communicating with clients to identify their needs, troubleshooting, identifying the root of issues, and performing corrective measures... Show more	$16-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Ventilation
   • Condensers
   • Ammonia
   • Freon
   • Refrigeration Systems
   • Refrigeration Equipment
   • Evaporators
   • Hazmat
   • PSM
   • Plumbing
   • Ladders
   • Control Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist with and, on occasion, manage installation and modification of building HVAC/R systems.
   • Perform daily checks of ammonia compressors, condensers, evaporators, troubleshoot ammonia systems, replace electrical motors and devices.
   • Install operated, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
   • Complete daily checklists of water chillers, evaporators, pumps, and condensers to insure proper running order.
   • Install and replace motors, pumps, switches, safety controls, solenoids, and fuses in all refrigeration areas.
   • Fix electrical switches and replace wires.

   More refrigeration mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your refrigeration mechanic job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A refrigeration mechanic salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, refrigeration mechanics' average salary in florida is 55% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level refrigeration mechanics earn 50% less than senior-level refrigeration mechanics.
   • Certifications. A refrigeration mechanic with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a refrigeration mechanic's salary.

   Average refrigeration mechanic salary

   $47,677yearly

   $22.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level refrigeration mechanic salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average refrigeration mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$68,590	$33
   2	Massachusetts	$66,812	$32
   3	New York	$62,710	$30
   4	Minnesota	$61,829	$30
   5	California	$57,566	$28
   6	Iowa	$55,566	$27
   7	Pennsylvania	$52,157	$25
   8	Kansas	$47,162	$23
   9	Indiana	$42,248	$20
   10	Kentucky	$41,694	$20
   11	Texas	$41,345	$20
   12	Georgia	$40,867	$20
   13	Louisiana	$37,127	$18
   14	Arizona	$35,397	$17
   15	Tennessee	$34,967	$17
   16	Florida	$32,143	$15

   Average refrigeration mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cottage Health	$69,762	$33.54
   2	US Foods	$65,385	$31.44	157
   3	PepsiCo	$64,959	$31.23
   4	American Pacific Corporation	$64,771	$31.14
   5	The Coca-Cola Company	$64,506	$31.01	35
   6	Merck	$64,052	$30.79	1
   7	General Mills	$63,410	$30.49	3
   8	Tyson Foods	$61,553	$29.59	17
   9	LCMC Health	$61,222	$29.43
   10	The Wild Center	$59,929	$28.81
   11	Polk County	$58,265	$28.01	10
   12	Cambridge Health Alliance	$57,781	$27.78	1
   13	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital	$57,457	$27.62	1
   14	County Of Los Angeles Public Library	$57,379	$27.59
   15	HealthTrust	$57,172	$27.49
   16	Conagra Brands	$56,779	$27.30	11
   17	The Kraft Heinz Company	$56,043	$26.94	4
   18	Vallarta Supermarkets	$55,895	$26.87	1
   19	Harris Teeter	$55,877	$26.86	8
   20	Dairy Farmers of America	$55,624	$26.74	21

4. Writing a refrigeration mechanic job description

   A good refrigeration mechanic job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a refrigeration mechanic job description:

   Refrigeration mechanic job description example

   Utilities Mechanic / Refrigeration FULL-TIME
   $29.15/hr This position is responsible for troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing all equipment and company assets while maintaining a safe work environment and adhering to Tyson policies and procedures. Applicants will be considered for any refrigeration maintenance opening on any overnight shift. Applicant must be willing to work overtime and weekends if required. Refrigeration Maintenance positions are responsible for monitoring, adjusting and maintaining the operation of the refrigeration systems and boiler and pumping systems as related to plant operation. Must be able to complete computerized training programs and use Tyson SAP software to document completion details of preventative maintenance routines as scheduled by the supervisor. Must be able to read and write where required for record keeping purposes. Must be able to use math as needed to make work related computations for machinery, fluid capacities, etc. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. on a daily basis and be able to stand for up to 12 hours. Applicant must be willing to complete all required training for the job. Quick Start Level 6 Rate - $26.40, has 8 Levels of training paying $29.15.
   Looking for 2nd and 3rd shift OMA-04 WS-04
   Schedule
   Shift start: 1:00PM
   Shift length: 10 - 12 hours
   4-5 days a week including weekends
   Benefits
   Health, dental, vision insurance - available after 59 days Paid time off 401(k) plan
   Qualifications
   Must pass drug screen (cannabis included) Can lift 50 lbs Must be at least 18+ years old This refrigeration maintenance position requires one year of industrial experience in ammonia refrigeration or the equivalent certification from a technical school. Applicant must have at least six months of continuous work history with same employer within the last twelve months to be considered.
   
   About Tyson Foods
   Tyson Foods is one of the world's largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson , Jimmy Dean , Hillshire Farm , Ball Park , Wright , Aidells , ibp , and State Fair . Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it's available and raise the world's expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company had 121,000 team members at September 29, 2018. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land, and environment entrusted to it.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right refrigeration mechanic for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with refrigeration mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit refrigeration mechanics who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your refrigeration mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit refrigeration mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting refrigeration mechanics requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new refrigeration mechanic

   Once you've selected the best refrigeration mechanic candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new refrigeration mechanic first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a refrigeration mechanic?